Dumping truck



2 Sheets-Sheet Fuse.

IN ENTOR S E H m fifi dW m h v w w Ea In July 21, 1931. E. N. JONES 1,315,553

DUMPING TRUCK Filed July 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Edward N. Jones 1,, Waww his arl'fo rne Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD N. JONES, OF PITTSBURGH; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE C. O. BARTLETT &; SNOW COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DUMPING TRUCK Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to a vehicular body for transporting and, unloading wet concrete, and particularly to a body of this nature which is readily convertible for use in transporting other materials such as sand, gravel, coal, and the like.

During the few years next preceding the date of filing of an application for Letters Patent on the invention herein described, central mixing plants have been established in nearly all large cities in which concrete is mixed, and from which it is transported to the places of its use.

Ordinary dump trucks have been commonly used for such transportation. The disadvantage of such procedure is that it compels the manufacturer of ready mixed concrete to restrict his product to stiff mixes; that is, a miX having a water content so low that it is undesirably hard and not sufficiently plastic for satisfactory use. This is'particularly detrimental when concrete is desired of a consistency permitting it to flow around reinforcing steel.

It is impossible to transport satisfactorily in an ordinary dump truck the wet concrete desired for many purposes, wet concrete being that having a Water content sufficiently high as to produce a plastic and workable mixture. Then the wet concrete is transported in ordinary dump trucks the mixture composed of sand, cement, and water rises above the coarse aggregate. WVhen the body of the truck is inclined to unload the concrete, the grout containing the most important ingredient, the cement, runs away leaving the coarse aggregate, stone, slag, or gravel packed in the bottom of the truck. This effect necessitates the use of sharp pointed tools, and great effort, in order to dislodge this packed aggregate.

The present invention prevents the sticking of the coarse aggregate to the bottom of the truck, by dumping the load from a false bottom to the true or fixed bottom of the truck at'the time the concrete is to be unloaded. Tests have shown that the weight of the concrete causes the mass to fall when 1927. Serial No. 205,588.

the support of the false bottom is removed. Segregation occurs even when the mass of concrete is transported in a false bottom, rather than in the fixed or true bottom of the truck. corrected when the mass is dropped from the false to the true bottom of the truck. The grout, which has risen to the top of the mass of concrete during transportation of the wet concrete, flows back through the cracks in the ifnzlllss of concrete which are opened by its a dumping, and the concrete flows out, the

grout and coarse'aggregate are thoroughly remixed in their passage from the truck body.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the truck body may be readily converted into a form for use in transporting such common materials as coal, coke, sand, gravel, and the like This saves the purchaser from the expense of maintaining trucks for such general purposes in addition to trucks providing special equipment for the transportation of concrete.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the truck of the present invention, showing the truck body in trans porting position; Figure 2 is an elevation of the chassis and associated parts of the truck, and a vertical sectional View through the truck body, showing the body in dumping position; Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the truck body, showing the same converted for the hauling of material other than concrete; Figure 4: is a cross sectional View through the truck body, on the line BB of Fig. 5, showing it converted for the hauling of concrete; Figure 5 is a View of the truck body, partly in plan, and partly in horizontal section on the line AA of Fig. 4; Figure 6 is an elevation of the latch for maintaining the convertible elements of the truck in position for the haulage of material other than concrete, showing the latch in inoperative position; and Figure 7 is a similar view of the latch showing the same in operative position.

In the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 1 designates the chassis and This segregation is, however,

When the truck body is inclined for associated parts of a truck, and the reference numeral 2 designates generally the truck body, which is arranged to be supported in carrying position on the chassis or to be tilted into dumping position by any suitable means, those shown being designated generally by the reference numeral 3.

The body of the truck comprises a floor 4, and outer frame members 5. Collapsible sides 6 are pivotally mounted at 7 adjacent the upper extremities of the outer frame members 5. Vdhen the truck body is to be used for the conveyance of gravel, brick, or any material other than mixed cementitious material, the collapsible sides 6 of the body are desirably in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. In this position they extend substantially vertically along the outer frame members 5, to form a body of increased volume.

hen so arranged the sides or plates 6 are locked in their vertical position by means of latches 8. Such latches each comprises a body member 9 pivoted at 10, so that its heavier portion 9a may be caused to project through or fall way from an aperture 11 in the floor 4: of the truck body. To the lighter portion 91). of the latch member is attached a bolt 12, which is surrounded by a coil spring 13 hearing against a plate 14. The tension of the spring 13 is regulated by means of a nut on the bolt 12 and bearing against the plate 14.

Vhen the latches are to be rendered inoperative the nuts 15 are loosened on the bolts 12 to so decrease the pull of the springs 13 that the heavier portions 9a of the body members fall away from the apertures 11 by their own weight. lVhen the latch is to be rendered operative the nuts 15 are tightened to increase the pull on the portion 91) of the latch body.

Means are provided for changing the position of the sides 6 from that shown in Figure 3, to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, and for maintaining the sides in the latter position. Such means comprise shafts 17 extending longitudinally of the truck body, adjacent the bottom 4 thereof. To these shafts 17 are keyed arms 18 which are provided with rollers 19 bearing against the sides 6 at points below the horizontal central lines thereof. To the shafts 17 are also keyed links 20 which are pivotally attached to short vertical links 21. On both sides of the body the links 21 are pivotally connected with bell cranks 22 and 23 keyed to a cross shaft 24:. On one side of the truck body a longitudinally extending rod 25 is pivoted at one of its ends to the bell crank 28 and at its other end to'an operating handle 26.

shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 3, the lower end of operating handle 26 is moved rearwardly. The upper end of the operating handle is thus moved forwardly, pulling forwardly on the rod 25. This in turn acts on the upper end of bell crank 23 to rotate the cross shaft 24 in a counter clockwise direction, and pull downwardly on the vertical links 21 on both sides of the body. This movement of the links 21 acts on the links 20 to rotate shafts 17 in a clockwise direction. This movement tends to move the upper ends of arms 18 outwardly toward the sides 5 of the body, permitting plates or sides (3 to move outwardly with them. This action is effected. by the weight of any material within the receptacle formed by the sides 6, and such material is dumped from this receptacle to the bottom of the truck.

It will be noted from Figure 4: that the arms 18 do not form a perpendicular line from their centers on the shafts 17 to their points of contact with the sides 6, so that they do not lie on dead center when the parts are in a position shown in Figure 1. This facilitates the starting of the movement which results in the outward swinging of the sides 6.

i l hen the sides 6 swing past the latch apertures 11 in the bottom 4 of the body, they force the heavier portions 9a of the latch bodies downwardly out of the way. When they have passed the latches. the portions are forced upwardly by the action of grings 18 so that the sides are engaged by the seats 16 of the latches.

If Elie receptacle formed by the sides 6 in their raised position is filled with mixed concrete, the segregation of the constitutents of the concrete is remedied, as this concrete is dropped from such receptacle onto the bottom 4 of the truck body. If the truck is dumped during or soon after this action, the concrete is thoroughly remixed, and all slides oif the bottom of a truck body during dumpmg.

It should be noted that the opening of the sides is abrupt, so that the material in the receptacle formed thereby drops, rather than slides, to the bottom of the truck body.

.This effect is advantageous in that it contributes to the desired remixing of the concrete.

In converting the truck from the condition for transporting other material to that for transporting moist cementitious material such mixed concrete, that is for moving the sides 6 from the position shown in Fig ure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, the lower end of operating handle 26 is moved forwardly. The upper end of the operating handle is thus moved rearwardly, pushing rearwardly on the rod 25. This in turn acts on the upper end of hell crank 23 to rotate ill) the cross shaft 24 in a clockwise direction,

and push upwardly on the vertical links 21 on both sides of the body. This movement of the links 21 acts on the links 20 to rotate shafts 17 in a counter clockwise direction. This movement tends to move the upper ends of arms 18 inwardly away from the sides of the body, carrying the sides 6 into the position shown in Figure 4. In this position the sides 6 are supported by the arms 18, which fixedly maintain them in the position shown in Figure 4. to provide the desired V-shaped receptacle, the rollers 19 of the arms being in contact with the angle members 19a on the sides.

Prior to the movement of operating handle 26 the nuts on bolts 12 are loosened, to lessen the action of the springs 13, and Permit the portions 9a of the latch bodies 9 to fall away from their position projecting through apertures 11 in the bottom t of the body. They may remain in such position during the use of the truck with sides 6 in their raised position to provide the hopper for moist concrete or the like.

When the truck is in condition for transporting concrete, the tail gate of the truck body may be operated by the means for collapsing the false body or hopper of the truck. For this purpose the tail gate is provided with latches in the form of bell crank levers 27 and 28. One end of the bell crank 27 is connected with the bell crank 22 by means of an operating rod 29; and one end of the other latch lever 28 is connected with bell crank 23 by means of an operating rod 30. WVhen, therefore, the rod 25 is moved forwardly to rotate bell cranks 22 and 23 for collapsing the false body or hopper, the latch bell cranks 27 and 28 are withdrawn from engagement with the tail gate to permit it to swing outwardly.

When the truck is to be used for transporting material other than concrete, the operating rods 29 and 30 are disconnected from the bell cranks 22 and 23, and the latches 27 and 28 are operated by hand.

It should be understood that the operating handle shown may be replaced by operating means for securing a mechanical advantage in raising and lowering the sides, and numerous other changes in the form and arrange.

ment of the parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In truck body construction an outer structure comprising a floor, a collapsible body structure in said outer structure, operable means for collapsing said collapsible body to dump material therefrom to the floor of the outer structure, a tail gate, a latch on the tail gate, and means connected with the body collapsing means for withdrawing said latch.

under the weight of the material therein.

2. In truck body construction, an outer structure comprising a floor, a collapsible body comprismg two side members having their upper portions mounted in the outer structure and their lower portions arranged to be brought into mutual contact,

and operable means for bringing the lower portlons of said side members into mutual contactand for permitting separation of the .same to dump the contents of the collapsible body to the floor of the outer structure.

3. In truck body construction, an outer structure comprisinga floor, a; collapsible false body structure comprising two sides pivotally mounted in the outer structure and arranged in one position to be disposed substantially vertically therein, and unitary means operable to bring the lower portions of the sides into mutual contact and to permit separation of the same to dump material from the false body to the floor of the outer structure. r

4. In truck body construction, an outer structure comprising a floor, a collapsible body structure comprising two sides pivotally mounted in the outer structure and arranged in one position to be disposed substantially vertically therein, latching means for maintaining the sides of the collapsible body in such position, and unitary means operable to bring the lower portions of the sides into mutual contact and permit separation of the same to dump material from the collapsible body to the floor of the outer structure.

5'. In truck body construction the combination of a tiltable floor, and a collapsible hopper includingseparable body sections mount- 16d. above said tiltable fioor,and arranged to overlie substantially the entire floor area.

6.. In truck body construction the combination of "a floor continuous throughout such body, a collapsible hopper mounted above said floor and arranged to overlie substantially the entire floor area, and operable means for reforming said hopper, when collapsed and permitting it :to collapse under the weight of the materialtherein.

7: In truck body construction the combination of a tiltable fioor continuous throughout such body, a collapsible hopper mounted above said tiltable floor, and arranged to overlie substantially the entire fioorarea, and operable means for reforming said hopper, when collapsed and permitting it to collapse 8. In truck body construction the combination of a floor continuous throughout such body, and a collapsible hopper mounted above said floor, the elements of the hopper when in collapsed condition being arranged to ex-l tion of a tiltable floor continuous throughout such body, and a collapsible hopper mounted above said tiltable floor the elements of the hopper when in collapsed condition being arranged to extend in substantially vertical position adjacent the edges of the floor thereby serving to provide sides extending upwardly from said floor.

10. In truck body construction the combination of a floor continuous throughout such body, a collapsible hopper mounted above said floor, the elements of the hopper when in collapsed condition being arranged to extend in vertical position adjacent the edges of the floor thereby serving to provide sides extending upwardly from said floor, and operable means for reforming said hopper, when collapsed and permitting it to collapse under the weight of the material therein.

11. In truck body construction the combination of a tiltable floor continuous throughout such body, a collapsible hopper mounted above said tiltable floor, the elements of the hopper when in collapsed condition being arranged to extend in vertical position adjacent the edges of the floor thereby serving to provide sides extending upwardly from said floor, and operable means for reforming said hopper, when collapsed and permitting it to collapse under the weight of the material therein.

12. In apparatus for retaining and deliver ing concrete the combination of a tiltable floor with a receptacle arranged to overlie substantially the entire floor area comprising movable members pivotally supported at fixed points adjacent their upper extremities at such height above the floor that their lower extremities lie above the floor, said supporting members being arranged to confine material in the receptacle both vertically and laterally.

13. In apparatus for retaining and delivering concrete the combinaton of a tiltable floor with a receptacle arranged to overlie substantially the entire floor area comprising movable supporting members arranged longitudinally of such floor and adapted to confine material in the receptacle both vertically and laterally, and means operable to maintain the movable members in position to confine the material or to permit relative transverse movement of the members to deposit the material on the floor.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD N. JONES. 

